WEBVTT >> I TOOK MY FIRST HANDFUL OFPILLS.SOLEDAD: THIS WEEK "MATTER OFFACT" JOINS AN EFFORT BY THENATIONAL ASSOCIATION OFBROADCASTERS TO TALK ABOUT THEOPIOID ADDICTION PROBLEMCLAIMING LIVES AND DEVASTATINGFAMILIES IN ALL OF OURCOMMUNITIES.THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTHSAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN 2MILLION AMERICANS ADDICTED TOOPIOIDS.RECENTLY, ON THIS SHOW, THESURGEON GENERAL, DR. VIVEKMURTHY, CALLED IT AMERICA'SEPIDEMIC. ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO WE BEGANAN EFFORT TO TREAT PAIN MOREAGGRESSIVELY AS A COUNTRY.BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT EFFORTTO TREAT PAIN MORE AGGRESSIVELYWAS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY THETRAINING AND SUPPORT THATCLINICIANS NEEDED, AND IT WASACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY MARKETINGOF OPIOID MEDICATION TODOCTORS.WHAT WE SAW OVER THE THATFOLLOWED WAS DEVASTATING.SOLEDAD: SO OVER THE NEXT YEAR,WE WILL COMMIT TIME IN OUR SHOWTO EXAMINE THE CAUSES, HIGHLIGHTEFFORTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TOADDRESS THE CRISIS, AND THEPOLICY INITIATIVES NEEDED TOSUPPORT A NATIONAL RESPONSE.WE'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT ON THEADVOCACY OF THOSE DIRECTLYAFFECTED.PEOPLE LIKE MARV SIMCACOSKI,WHOSE MARINE SON DIED OF ANOVERDOSE WHILE RECEIVING INPATIENT CARE AT A VETERAN'SHOSPITAL IN WISCONSIN.>> I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN'TBRING MY SON BACK NOW, BUT LET'SSAVE SOME OTHER SONS ANDDAUGHTERS.SOLEDAD: OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP ACONVERSATION GOING THAT WILL DOMORE THAN CREATE AN AWARENESS OF

Taking on A National Epidemic

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Updated: 6:11 PM EDT Sep 16, 2016

Washington, D.C. —

Matter of Fact is joining the National Association of Broadcasters in a campaign to take on an American epidemic – opioid addiction.